Method and apparatus for conditioning grain



May 7, 1929. E. s. MILLER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING G'RAINFiled April 19, 1927 UNITED" STATES PATENT o rcE.

EDGAR S. MILLER, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR '10 CARRIER ENGINEER-ING CORPORATION, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

P Ms 1,1 29. 1,711,574

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING GRAIN.

Application filed April 19, 1927. Serial No. 185,056.

It is a fact well known to those familiar ture present upon the surfacesof the branwith the process of manufacturing flour and-germ particlesrender th h t from wheat and other grams that the optiadhesive. mumcondition for facilitating the reduction A too high temperature in therain also and separation of the grain into flour and renders theendosperm particles soft and by-products is dependent upon thetemperapliant. retarding reduction and interfering ture and moisturecontent of the grain and with the proper separation. This condition uponthe distribution of the moisture within also results in a low flour,yield. the individual kernels. It is also well recit is well known thatthe individual ker- J ognized that these factors cannot be prede- 1101sof wheat and other grains vary greatly termined with any considerabledegree of in physical characteristics. Both iii the socalled hard grainsand in the so-called soft According to the present practices, thegrains, particularly in wheats, a wide difgrain is usually dampened withwater some ference in specific weight of endospcrm, due 15 hours beforethe milling operation is begun, to a more or less compact structure,obtains. the purpose being the mellowing of the in- The experiencedmiller knows that the hardterior portions. known as the endosperm, estkernels require the most moisture for thus making the outer covering. orbranbringing about an optimum physical condicoat and the germ, commratively more retion for milling, and that the softest berries sistantto disintegration than is the endorequire the least. Those ofintermediate sperm. If insuflicient moisture is used, or structurenaturally require proportionate it' the grain is reduced when itstemperature amounts of 'moisture. Further, since heat is rather low, thebran-coat and germ tend also tends to soften the grains, the hardest topulverize, making their separation from berries should be the warmest,and the softest the pulverized endosperm very difficult or berries thecoolest, with those of interme- 0 impossible. Under such conditions theflour diate structure at proportionate temperacontains much pulverizedbran or germ, retures. It is a well established fact that moissulting ina deterioration of color and an care will penetrate a soft berry morequickly increase of certain substances inimical to the than a hard one,and also that the diffusion of proper development of the doughs mademoisture from a soft kernel is at a higher 5 from such flour. Theseso-called in'ipurities ate than it is from the hard grains. Morearedetected as ash, procured by burning a over, moisture penetration ishastened when portion of the flour under certain well-known the quantityof available moisture, inthe conditions. On the other hand, when tooformof water. is large. much moisture is used in ten'ipering the In theusual method of heating grain, the grain. two distinct. objectionableresults folkernels are brought into contact with some low: The cndospermis rendered soft and comparatively hot surface, such as metal cohesive,making its reduction and separaheated by steam, water or other heatingmetiou difiieult,and the bran-coat and germ,and dium. Since only a smallportion of the particles thereof are made somewhat adhesurface of thekernels can come in contact or, sive by the presence of free moistureupon with the heated surfaces at one and the same their surfaces. Eithercondition results in time, it is obvious that certain portions of a poorflour yield. The cndosperm particles, the grain must become very hot inorder to being somewhat platic, resist reduction. raise the averagetemperature of the mass to Even when reduced, they tend to lump', thepoint desired. This often results in inpreventing their free passagethrough the jury to the endosperms, or flour-producing meshes of thebolting medium. Passing portions of the grain, for itis well known overthe cloth and to the subsequent operathat some ofthe grains mostvaluable contions, many of them find their way to bystituents willcoagulate at temperatures products, thus increasing the percentage oflower than the usual temperatures of the 5 feed'and decreasing thepercentage of flour. heating surfaces, and that coagulation ren- T heparticles of bean-coat and germ, in their ders these constituents lessvaluable. passage over the separating medium in com- In carrying out. myprocess, I cause an inpziiiy with the particles of endosperm, carrytlmatc contact of the grain with air or other many of these with them,because the moisgas properly conditioned as to moisture concontact withthe grain for the required period of time and cause a relative motionbetween this air and the grain mass with a -\'clocity which will causethe temperature of the-grain to make a close approach to the Wetbulbtemperature of the entering air may be employed.

Heating, cooling and evaporation of moisture from the grain are allaccomplished by means of air currents, the quantity of air used, itsvelocity through the mass of grain,

and the (properties of the air used being co-.

ordinate to the mass and specific heat factor of the grain to secure theresults sought.

In my process the grain mass may be employed as a medium forprcscntingmoisture to the air currents passing through it so that,

in effect, the grain mass becomes a humiditying device. Air passingthrough the mass raporizes a part of the liquid water contained in or onthe grain. The heat required for the vaporization of the liquid comesfrom the air or the grain, and of course, becomes latent.

The temperature of the air and of the grain thus tends to conform to thewet bulb temperature of the entering air. When the grain is warmer thanthe wet bulb temperature of the entering air and is contributing heat tothe water being vaporized, the temperature of the grain willautomatically approach the wet bulb temperature of the entering airwithin a few degrees. When the grain is somewhat colder than the wetbulb tempera ture of the entering air and is receiving, heat from theair (which is also providing the heat required for the ture), thetemperature of the grain will be somewhat lower than the wet bulbtemperature of the entering air, though it will also approach thistemperature Within a few degrees.

Therefore, in my process the temperature of the grain is controlled bycontrolling the wet bulb temperature of the entering air. For example, athermostat placed in the grain mass,- or in the air passed through thegrain mass, and set for any desired temperature, can be made to increasethe Wet bulb temperature of the entering air by the operation ofcontrols to a heater anda humidifying device to a point necessary forthe maintenance of the given temperature of the grain. Conversely, whenthe temperature of the grain begins to rise above the desired point, thethermostat will cut off heat from the heaters and moisture from thehumidifying device, thus reducing the wet bulb temperature of theentering air inrelation to the dry bulb temperature thereof to a pointnecessary for the maintenance of the given temperature of vaporizationof moisthe grain, or to the point established by natural conditions atthat particular timeor to any point to which the entering air may becooled artificially by the provision of cooling means.

Since evaporation of moisture from the grain will depend upon therelation of the dew point temperature to the dry bulb temperature of theentering air, it can be controlled for any desired point within thelimits of the apparatus,as for instance, by controlling with athermostat or humidostat, or both, the heat and percentage of relativehumidity of the entering air. 7

Whether cooling or heating is being accomplishcd, my processcontemplates some evaporation of moisture at all, times. If the grainhas been made too damp by the usual tempering process, or otherwise, theoperator may at will remove any amount of moisture, up to the limits ofthe apparatus, in a. few minutes time. In summer, when the grain isusually too warm, the maximum had even while reducing the temperature ofthe grain. This is accomplished by in creasing the dry bulb temperatureof the entering air without increasing its dew point temperature. Theamount of evaporation accomplished in my process is, in fact, controlledby controlling the relation of the dry bulb temperature to the dew pointtemperature of the entering air. Any amount of evaporation from minimumto maximum may thus be obtained at any time, whether cooling or heatingis being accomplished by my process.

If an insuflicient amount of moisture has been added to the grain by theusual tempering process, the condition may be rectified by addingconsiderably more than the deficiency a few minutes before the grainenters the conditi oning process, and then evaporating the excessmoisture. The comparatively large quantity of water added will causerapid penetration of the grain. In the period of time required for itspassage through the conditioning process, the grain will give up to theair currents only the moisture near the surface, allowing the residue toremain in the endosperm of the grain. No moisture will be present uponthe surface of the bran-coat and germ, and adhesion of endospermparticles when the grain is broken will be avoided.

My method of conditioning grain will be further explained in connectionwith the de scription of the construction and operation of the apparatusshown in the accompanying drawings as one embodiment of apparatussuitable for carrying out the method. Said apparatus which constitutespart of my invention may be described as follows:

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a dlagrammatic, sectional elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof on line 2- 2, Fig.1.

evaporation may be Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjustable disk for-,regulating the area of contact between the ain' and the air.

. Fig. '4 is a fragmentary, sectional eleva- 5 tion of a grainconditioner of modified construetion. t The apparatus comprises a graincondi-- tioner or device A in which the contact of the grain with theair is produced, an air condi- 1 0 tioner or deviceB in which the air-iscondi-' tioned to provide the required temperature and moisture'contentthereof, and a fan or blower C by which the air is circulated throughthe air conditioner B and the grain conditioner A.

The grain conditioner may comprise, as shown, an outer casing 10 whichmay be made 'of sheet metal or other suitable material, and may be ofupright cylindrical or other suitable form, and inner and outer walls orshells l1 and 12 which are arranged within the casing 10 and spaced fromthe latter, and from each 1 other so as to provide between the walls 11and 12 a space 13 inwhich the grain is confined and through which prefera'bly the grain is adapted to move or travel during the treatment, andan inner air space or chamber 14 within the inner shell 11 and an outerair. space 15 between the outer wall or shell 12 and the casing. Theinner and outer walls or shells 11 and 12 may be of any suitableconstruction 'or material provided with perforations or openingspermitting the passage of the air from one to the other of the airchambers through the grain in the space 13 between the two perforatedwalls. For instance,.these walls can be made of wire mesh material, asindicated in Figs. 1 and 2, or they can be composed of frifsto-coni- 40cal 01' converging metal rings separated by narrow openings or spacesthrough which the air can pass, as shown in Fig. 4. In the constructionshown, the upper end of the outer wall or shell 11 is contracted andconnects with a grain inlet pipe or duct 17, while the lower end of theshell is contracted and connects with a grain outlet pipe or duct 18,and the upper end of the inner wall or shell 11 is provided with anupwardly contracting top or deflector 19 so that the grain is adapted toenter through the inlet pipe 17 and fill the annular grain space 13 anddischarge through the lower or outlet pipe 18; An inverted cone 19partially closes the lower end of the chamber 14, and also acts as ameans of preventing-an excessive quantity of air from coming in contactwith the exposed surfaces of wheat in the contraction leading to outletpipe 18. An air deflector plate 19 is also shown'in the chamber 14opposite thedischarge end of the air supply pipe. The discharge orWithdrawal of the grain through the outlet pipe can be controlled by anysuitable means wheteby the movement of the grain through the conditionercan be regulated so as to require a predetermined period of time for itspassage through the conditioner A, and the discharge may be operated soas to cause a continuous slow travel or passage of grain through theconditioner. Suitable deflectors 19 are prcf erably interposed atintervals in the grain space 13 for the purpose of equalizing thedownward flow of the grain.

The fan C discharges the air which has been conditioned in the airconditioner 13 into the inner chamber 14 of the grain conditioner A inwhich a pressure is created and from which the air passes through thebody of grain in the space 13 into the outer :asing 10, from which theair can escape through suitable outlets as 20 or 21. As shown, theoutlet 20 permits the escape of the air into the surrounding atmosphere,while the outlet 21 is shown as being connected by a return pipe 22 tothe inlet end of the air conditioner B so that if desired, themoisture-ladened air escaping from the casing can be returned to the airconditioner and again used.

The grain conditioner A may be of any other suitable construction, andthe area of the grain and air chambers or spaces in the grainconditioner may be varied to suit the existing conditions. The cubicalcapacity of the grain space or chamber 13 should be sufficient to exposejust the proper amount of grain to the air currents for the requisiteperiod of time, and the thickness of the wall of grain interposed to theair passing through the same from one air chamber to the other should bein ratio to the static pressure of the air maintained in the inlet orpressure chamber 14. Means are provided for altering the area of theperforated wall or shell 11 which receives the full pressure of the aircoming from the fan in order to bring a greater or less quantity ofgrain under the influence ot' the air current to suit the existingconditions The means shown for this purpose consists of a horizontaldisk 22 which is adapted to be ad usted vertically to differentelevations in the air pressure chamber 14. The disk shown is providedwith apertures 22 to allow any grain which might fall upon the disk topass through the same so as to discharge from the grain conditioner. Asshown, this disk is supported by a flexible cable or connection 23 whichpasses through a guide tube in the upper portion of the grainconditioner and over suitable guide pulleys 24 on the top of the casing10 and is provided at its outer end with a hook adapted to be engagedwith retainers 25 on the outside of the vertical Wall of the casing 10.The disk can be supported at the desired elevation in the air pressurechamber byengaging thehook on the end of the cable with one or the otherof the retainers 2!). Any other suitable means for supporting the disk22 at different elevations in the air pressure chamber may be employed.This adjustable disk enables the operator to adjust the device for agreater or smaller capacity, as may be required by the demands of themill in which the apparatus is used. When the area of the perforatedwall or shell 11 is altered, the required static pressure of the airwithin the pressure chamber 14 may be readily changed by means of asuitable gate or damper controlling the admission of air from the fan tothe grain conditioner. A damper 26 is shown for this purpose in the fandischarge pipe, but the damper could be arranged elsewhere, forinstance, in the fan inlet, as indicated at 26.

The air conditioner B is provided with a fresh air inlet opening 30, andthe fan is adapted to draw the air for delivery to the grain conditionereither through this opening or through the return air duct 22, as may bedesired. Within the air conditioner is pro vided a heatcr'31 for heatingthe air, and a device 32 for moistening or humidifying the air. In theapparatus shown, steam is employed both for heating and humidifying theair, and the steam is supplied from a pipe 33 to the heater 31 andhumidifier 32. An automatically controlled valve 34 controls the supplyof steam to both the heater and humidifier, and an additional handcontrol is also provided for the heater, as by a hand valve 35 arrangedin a branch pipe 36 and for the humidifier, as by a hand valve 37 in abranch pipe 38 leading to the humidifier. 39 represents a check valve inthe steam supply pipe between the humidifier and the heater.

The automatic valve 34: is controlled by a thermostatic and/orhumidostatic regulator- 40 of any suitable'type which is or are arrangedso as to he afi'ccted by the temperature of the grain or the conditionof the air leaving the grain, or by both. As shown, the regulator 40extends into the grain in the space 13 in the grain conditioner andcontrols the passage of compressed air from a compressed air reservoir42 through a pipe 43 to the diaphragm or motor of the automatic valve34. The regulator may be set for a desired temperature of the grain orair, and if the temperature rises above or falls below the point forwhich theregulator is set, the regulator will cause the automatic valve34 to operate to decrease or increase the supply of steam to the heater31 and humidifier 32 so as to maintain the condition for which theregulator is set. While in the apparatus shown, steam is used forheating and l1umidi fying the air, the necessary heat may be 'obtainedfrom any other convenient source such as water, electricity or hotgases, and the air could be humidified by atomized water or anelectrical heating device for vaporizing the water into the air currentin the air conditioner, in which cases the heating and humidifyingdevices would be controlled by suitable valves or switches under thecontrol of the regulator 40;

In the apparatus shown, the regulator 40 also controls dampers 50 and 51which control the escape of air through the outlets 20 and 21respectively from the casing of the grain conditioner. For this pur osethe compressed air pipe 43 is connected y a pipe {)2 to an air motor 53,the movement of which 1s transmitted throu ha lever 54 and rod 55, orany other suitable mechanism, to the dampers 50 and 51. These dampers 50and 51 are connected up tothe actuating motor so that as one dampercloses the other will open. By this means the moisture content of theair being delivered to the grain conditioner may be increased ordiminished by us- 1ng more or less of the moist, return air from thegrain conditioner.

The return air and its control mechanism may be used to supplementthe'action of the humidifier 32, or either the return air con-- trol, orthe humidifier 32 may be employed independently of the other, in whichcase the return air control may be dispensed with.

when the humidifier 32 is employed or the humidifier 32 may be dispensedwith when the return air control is used.

When the conditioner is functioning to cool the grain to the capacity ofthe apparatus, neither heat nor moisture Will be added to the air beingdelivered to the grain conditioner. The velocity of air passing throughthe wall of'grain must be adjusted exactly to the requirements. Therequisite velocity is ob- 1 0 tained by adjustmentof the disk 22 to varythe area of the perforated wall 11 receiving the full pressure of theair from the pressure chamber 14 and regulating the static pressure ofthe air in this chamber by appropriate adjustments of the dampers 26 or26 in the air ducts. The quantity of air passing through the wall ofgrain may thus be regulated to provide just suflicient evaporation ofmoisturefrom the grain to absorb fronr it sufficient heat, as latentheat of vaporization, to produce the desired temperature of the grainwithin the limits of the apparatus. When considerable evaporation ofmoisture from the grain is required, as for rectifying .115 a too Wetcondition of the grain, the heater v 31 may be manipulated by theoperator to cause a rise in the dry bulb temperature of the airdelivered to the grain conditioner A. Without raising the dew pointtemperature of this air. This can be accomplished by adjustment of thehand valve 35 in the apparatus shown, by which more or less steam can beadmitted to the heater.

When the apparatus is functioning to heat the grain, the amount ofevaporation may be regulated by the operator by introducing more or lessmoisture into the air delivered to the grain conditioner. This can beaccomplished by appropriate adjustment of the hand valve 37 controllingthe supply of steam to the humidifier 32, or b other suitable means forvarying the humidification of the air in the air conditioner. Themoisture content of the air-may also be controlled by controllingtheamount of return air used, for which purpose the operator canappropriately adjust the air dampers 50 and 51, which may be constructedin any suitable manner to .permit the hand adjustment thereof.

By the apparatus described, the pressure of the air in the air pressurechamber 14 and the flow of the air from this chamber through the graincan be regulated so as to control, as desired, the rate of flow of theair through the body of grain, and the length of time of contact of theair with the grain, and both the temperature and the moisture content ofthe air can be regulated to give the required dry bulb and wet bulb ordew point temperatures of the air in contact with the grain. e

In the hereindescribed process for conditioning wheat and other grains,I provide means for altering the moisture content and the temperature ofthe grain shortly before the milling operation is begun, or at any timepreceding the milling operation. By this process the miller may removethe required amount of moisture from grain which is too 'wet in a fewminutes time, or he may add to the moisture content of grain which istoo dry a few minutes before it comes to the C011- ditioning apparatusand then evaporate a certain amount of moisture from the grain. In thisway he may insure that the necessary amount of moisture will actuallypenetrate the berries,-since the processing apparatus will remove theexcess moisture from the exterior of the grain. The complete operationmay be accomplished in a few minutes instead of the usual few or severalhours time previous to the beginning of the milling operation. By myprocess the temperature of the grain may be altered in a few minutes,

cooling it when its temperature is too high and warming it when thetemperature is too low. My process contemplates the heating of the grainby sin-rounding each kernel with warm air with a controlled percentageof relative humidity. The wet bulb temerature of this air will be but afew degrees liigln er than the'temperature desired in the grain.

Since it is knownthat diffusion of moisture is most rapid in grainshaving a loose texture of endosperm, my process contemplates the removalof the most moisture from the softest kernels, and the least from thehardest ones, with proportionate moisture removal from those kernelshaving an intermediate texture. Moreover, since the temperature of eachindividual kernel being processed must be in exact ratio to the amountof moisture evaporated from it during the process, my process willremove the most heat from the soft est berries and the least heat fromthe hardest ones, with proportionate heat removal from those havingintermediate textures. My process contemplates delivery of the softestkernels with the least moisture and the lowest temperature, the hardestkernels with the most moisture and the highest temperature, withproportionate percentages of moisture and with proportionate.temperatures in the kernels with intermediate textures.

For the reasons hereinbefore explained, and because the atmosphericconditions prevailing during the period when the actual millingoperation is being performed often make a modification of moisture ortemperature, or both, desirable, a wide range of temperatures andpercentages of moisture in the grain are required to meet varyingconditions. The nature. of the milling process also determines to someextent the optimum condition of moistures and temperatures in the grainbeing milled. For example, the more severe the treatment undergone bythe grain and its constituents in their passage through the mill, thegreater the amount of heat that will be generated by the machinesaccomplishing the reductions. Since some of this heat will betransmitted to the stocks, it is apparent that the milling process willtend to raise their temperatures, more or less, according to theseverity of the treatment accorded them. This may make a lower or ahigher initial temperature of the grain desirable.

W'orking under normal conditions of atmosphere, and with what may betermed a conventional American milling program, grinding a so-callcdhard "American wheat the majority of the kernels of which are of atexture usually designated as vitreous, an average temperature of aboutdegrees F., and an average moisture content of about 15 percent in thewheat mass provides conditions very nearly ideal. \Vith a much softervariety of grain, or under dili'erent atmospheric conditions, a muchlower temperature, or a lower percentage of moisture in the grain mightbe desirable. Conversely, when a much harder grain is being milled, orwhen atmospheric conditions are such that evaporation for the productsof the broken grain is too high or too low, higher temperatures withhigher percentages of moisture, or higher percentages of moisture witheither a higher or lower temperature may sometimes be required.Different systems of milling may also require dill'erent combinations oftemperature and moisture in the mass of grain.

My process contemplates a manipulation of moisture content andtemperature of the grain previous to the beginning of the reducing andseparating process. The most desirable conditions of moisture andtemperature of the grain to be milled cannot be stated with accuracybecause of the wide difierences of physical structure presented bygrains of different types, because of the wide variation in the variousmilling programs nd in milling practice, and because atmosphericconditions are often variable, but my process enables the operator toprovide a physical con-' dition in the grain suitable to any and everycondition likely to be encountered in a commercial millingestablishment.

As used in the claims, the term air is to be understood'to include othergaseous mediums capable of being conditioned and operating to conditionthe grain as to its temperature and moisture content in the mannerhereinbefore described.

I- claim as'my invention:

1. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain to intimate contact with air, controlling the treatmentof the grain b the air so as to cause the temperature of t e grain toapproximate the wet bulb temperature of the entering air, and regulatingthe wet bulb temperature of the air so as to obtain a desiredtemperature of the grain.

2. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisescausing an intimate contact of the grain with a current of air in thepresence of moisture controlling the treatment of the grain by the airso as to cause the temperature of the grain to approximate the wet bulbtemperature of the entering air, and regulating the wet bulb temperatureof the air so as to obtain a desired temperature of the grain.

3. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain to contact with a current of air so that the air iscaused to pass through the grain, and controlling the rate of flow ofthe air through the grain and the period of contact of the air with thegrain, so as to cause the temperature of the grain to approximate thewet bulb temperature of the entering air, and regulating the wet bulbtemperature of the air so as to obtain a desired temperature of thegrain.

4. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisescausing a cur rent of air to fiow through a mass of grain, controllingthe pressure and the area of contact of the air with the mass of grain,so as to cause the temperature of the grain to approximate the wet bulbtemperature of the entering air, and regulating the wet bulb temperatureof the air so as to obtain a desired temperature of the grain.

5. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisescausing a current of air to flow through a moving stream of grain,controlling the period of contact of the air with the grain, so as tocause the temperature of the grain to approximate the wet bulbtemperature of the entering. air, and regulating the wet bulbtemperature of the air so as to obtain a desired temperature of thegrain.

6. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain to contact with a current of air, controlling thetreatment of the grain by the air so as to cause the temperature of thegrain tov approximate the Wet bulb temperature of the entering air, andautomatically regulating the wet bulb temperature of the enterim air soas to obtain a desired temperature oi? the grain.

7. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain to contact with a currentof air, controlling thepassage of the air through the grain, so as to cause the temperature ofthe graiir to approximate the wet bulb temperature of the entering air,and conditioning the air under the control of the temperature ofthegrain so as to obtain a desired temperature of the grain.

8. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisespassing a cur rent of air through the grain, regulating the rate of flowof the air through the grain and the period of contact of the air withthe grain, so as to cause the temperature of the grain to approximatethe wet bulb temperature of the entering air, and regulating thecondition ofthe air so as to obtain a desired temperature of the grain.

9. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain to contact with a current of air, controlling thetreatment of the grain by the air so as to cause the temperature of thegrain to approximate the wet bulb temperature of the entering air, andregulating relation be tween the dry bulb temperature and the dew pointof the entering air to obtain a desired moisture content of the grain.

10. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisesfirst moisten ing the grain so that the grain will contain an excess ofmoisture, then subjecting the grain to contact with a current of air forevaporating a portion of the moisture from the grain, controlling thetreatment of the grain by the air so as to cause the temperature of thegrain to approximate the wet bulb temperature of the entering air, andcontrolling the temperature of the grain by regulating the wet bulbtemperature of the entering air.

11. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain to contact with a current of air, controlling thetreatment of the grain by the air so as to cause the temperature of thegrain to approximate the wet bulb temperature of the entering air, andregulating the dry bulb temperature and the dew point of the enteringair to control the temperature and moisture content of the grain.

-temperature and moisture content. before the wet bulb.temperature ofthe air,

.. temperature of the 12. The hereindescribed method of condiquireddegree, and increasing the dew point;

of the entering air to prevent excessive reduction of the moisturecontent of the grain.

13. The hereindescribed method of: conditioning grain which comprisessubjecting grain containing moisture to intimate contact with air for asuflicient period of time to cause the temperature of the grain toclosely approach the wet bulb temperature of the entering air, andregulating the wet bulb temperature of the air so as to obtain a desiredtemperature of the grain.

14. The hereindescribed method of conditioning grain which comprisescausing intimate contact of the grain containing moisture with air untilthe temperature of the grain approximates the wet bulb temperature ofthe air, and conditioning the air before contact with the grain so as toobtain a desired temperature of the grain. 15. The hereindescribedmethod of conditioning grainwhich comprises causing 'intimate contactofthe grain containing moisture with air until the temperature of thegrain approximates the wet bulb temperature of the air, and conditioningthe air as to its contact with the grain so as to obtain a desiredtemperature and moisture content of 1 the gram. 4o

16. In an apparatus for conditioning gram, the combination of means forcausing the passage of air through the grain and causing an intimatecontact between the air and the grain, means tor regulating the rate offiow of the air through and the period of contact of the air with thegrain whereby the temperature of the grain will approach and means forconditioning the air before contact with the grain so as to obtain adesired grain.

17. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combination of means forcausing the passage of air through the grain and causing an intimatecontact between the air and the grain, means for regulating the passageof the air through the grain whereby the temperature of the grain willapproach thewet bulb temperature of the air, and means for regulatingthe Wet bulb temperar ture of the air before contact with the grain soas to obtain a desired temperature of the grain.

18. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combination of means forcausing the passage 'ofair ,through the grain and causing anintimatecontact between the air and the grain, means for regulatingthe'passage of the air through the grain whereb/y the temperature of thegrain will approach the wet bulb temperature of the air,-and meanscontrolled by the temperature of the grain after treatment by the air,or by said air, for regulating the wet bulb temperature of the airbefore contact with the grainso as to obtain a desired temperature ofthe grains 19. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combinationof means for causing the passage of air through the grain and caus-r ingan intimate contact between the air and so the grain, means forregulating the passage of the air through the 4 grain whereby theten'iperature of the grain will approach the wet bulb temperature of theair, a thermostat influenced by grain after treatment by the air, orbysaid air, and means controlled by said thermostat for regulating thewet bulb temperature of the air before contact with the grain so as toobtain a desired temperature of the rain b L 20. In an apparatus forconditlonmg gram, the combination of means for causing the passage of3.11 through the gram and causing an intimate contact between the airand Y05 the grain, means for regulating the passage of the air throughthe grain whereby the temperature of the grain will approach the wetbulb temperatureof the air, a thermostat infiuenced by the temperatureof the grain after treatment by the air, and air heating and humidifyingmeans controlled by' said thermostat for regulating the wet bulbtemperature of the air before contact with thegrain soas to obtain adesired tempe-rature of the grain.

21. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combination of meansfor'causing the passage of air through the grain and causing an intimatecontact betweenthe air and the grain, means for regulating the passageotthe air through the grain whereby the temperature of the grain willapproach-the Wet bulb temperature of the air, a thermostat or humidostatinfluenced by the temperature of the grain after treatment by the air,or by said air, air heating and humidifying means controlled by saidthermostat or *humidostat, for regulating the temperature and moisturecontent of the air before contact with the grain, and additionalregulating means for said heating and humidifying means.

22. In an apparatus for, conditioning;

grain, the combination of means for causing the passage of air throughthe grain and causing an intimate contact,between the air and the grain,means for regulating the rate of flow of the air through and the periodof 1 contact ofthe air with the grain whereby the thetemperature of thes5 temperature ofthe grain will approach the wet bulb temperature of theair, an air heater and an air moistener for respectively heat ing andhumidifying the air, and regulating means influenced by the grain aftertreatment for said heater and moistener for controlling the temperatureand moisture content of the. air before contactwith the grain.

23. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combination of means forcausing the passage of air through the grain and causing an intimatecontact between the air and the grain, means for regulating the passageof the air through the grain whereby the temperature of the grain willapproach the wet bulb temperature of the air, an air heater and an airmoistener for respectively heating and 'humidifyingithe air, means forreturning air after contact with the grain to said heater and moistener,and regulating means for the heater, moistener and air return means forcontrolling the temperature and moisture content of the air *beforecontact with the grain. 4 i

24. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combination of a grainconditioner comprising a chamber for the grain having proylslon for theescape of air, and an air by a passage of ail 'into said grain chamber,means for supplying air-to said an chamber, means.

chambe separated from said; grain chamber q rtition wall having openingsfor the for regulating the admission of air to the air chamber, meansfor varying the area of said partition Wall through which the air canpass to said grain chamber, and means for regulating the temperature andmoisture content of the air before contact with the grain.

25. In an apparatus for conditioning grain, the combination of a grainconditioner comprising a grain chamber having p rovision for the escapeof air, means for causing grain to pass in a moving stream through saidchamber, and an air chamber separated from said grain chamber by apartition wall having openings for the passageof air into.

said grain chamber, means for supplying air to said air chamber, meansfor regulating the admission of the air to the air chamber,

means for varying the area of said partition wall through which the aircan pass to said grain chamber, and means for regulating the temperatureand-moisture content of the air before contact with the grain.

EDGAR 's. MILLER.

